[NTLUG:Discuss] Resolved, sort of [Was: Re: OT: FiOS auxiliary power for BBU]

[Robert Pearson]

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 10:20 AM, Fred James <fredjame at fredjame.cnc.net> wrote:
> Thank you all for all the interesting input and links ... the (sort of)
> resolution may be of interest to some ... I shall just pass on the gist
> of what I found, without judgment ...
> (1) APS did indeed make the BBU in question under their Power Shield
> line/group, but they stopped making Power Shield products a while ago
> (according to APS)
> (2) If the auxiliary battery pack is available, it would have to be
> purchased through the broadband provider (according to APS)
> (3) The auxiliary battery pack is not available (according to Verizon)
> (4) Reverting from FiOS digital voice (phone) to POTS (coper) voice is
> not possible (according to Verizon)
> (5) Batteries Plus sells replacement batteries for the unit, and a
> charger for the battery, too (< $30 for the charger, < $40 for the
> battery, I was told)
> (6) One could of course attempt to become one's own power company
> (generator, solar, etc)
> Thanks again
> Regards
> Fred James
>

RE:(6) above. Couple of options to think about.
The ham radio operators that have commented over time about power
outages on several mailing lists do not depend on a commercially
available UPS solution. They use the marine lead-acid battery UPS
augmented by a motor generator for extended power outages. This is
bulky and more expensive than off-the-shelf UPS power for computing
only and may be hazardous to small children. It does work even in
hurricanes until your house is blown or washed away. They typically
buy the largest marine lead acid batteries they can afford. Some build
their own motor generator sets. Some buy.
Your power requirements would be considerably less than some of these
ham operators.

With the new "Green" awareness many houses are now off-the-electric
grid completely so even the toaster is free from power loss. There are
some tax, local government and electric incentives that help cut the
initial cost down.
In states where if you generate more electricity than you consume, you
can sell the overage back to the power grid. You can make money while
being off-the-electric-grid, have zero monthly electric bills after
paying for the off-the-electric-grid equipment and be totally
independent of power outages.

Both of these solutions would be more expensive initially than a
simple upgrade, expansion, etc. of an existing UPS, if it were
available.